shotgun shell ?
 

For the Parker experts
I have a DH made in1905 with Titanic steel barrels with new Briley thin wall screw-in chokes can i shoot Fiocchi 12ga 2 3/4, 1-3/8oz, #5 shot, 1250fps nickel plated lead shot without harming my barrels? Headed to Kansas to pheasant hunt.

I'm no expert, but if it were me, I'd want to check the pressure of these cartridges against the Parker load tables that have been published here and in TPS p515 to ensure that they fall within the service load ranges.

Maybe I'm just ultra cautious.

I would be less concerned about harming the barrels and more concerned about cracking the stock. Those are rather stout loads, the contact points between receiver and stock are small and the wood is 105 years old. You'll probably get away with it but why take a chance. Be sure the screws holding the stock to the receiver are tight. Loose screws will lead to cracked stock.

A good rule of thumb, pressure stresses barrel, recoil stresses stock.

Show me a pheasant that is in range for those loads and I'll show you the same one is in range for 1 1/4 ounce at 1175 to 1220 fps.

I've always looked at it this way. I would never put myself 40 yards down range and have someone fire the lightest load, lowest pressure shot shell known directly at me. As far as I'm concerned, they all will do the job on a bird, so I take it easy on the old guns and have not had any change in how the birds drop compared to heavy loads fired from "modern" pumps and autos. If the bird is unfortunate enough to find itself within the pattern of any type of shotshell I've ever used, they have become dinner. That has been my experience over 5+ decades of the chase.
Cheers,
Jack

Fiocchi- stout loads indeed.
 

Fine shells BUT IMO- better suited for a modern era gas operated autoloader- A 1905 DH 12- the chokes were honed out and Briley thinwall screw in chokes installed, correct? But your fine Parker was built when paper shells were the norm, we were slowly moving from black powder into the smokeless powder shells- older style primers, waddding, crimps and possibly 2 &5/8" chambers.

I concurr with brother Lester about recoil and the wood at the critical stock head area- I'd stick with my favorite combo in my 12 GHE No. 2 frame Parker- 28" Imp. Cyl. and Mod.-- I use a 1 & 1/8th AA std. Trap load (not Handicap) 1150-1200 FPS range in the right barrel, and the same load in the left if shooting over a close working tight holding pointing dog- if over my Lab or with another friend with a flush dog, then I use some of my older Rem Express paper 1 & 1/4 oz. No. 6 shells in the left barrel.

What choke combinations do you plan to use in the DH with the Brileys? Kansas birds in Dec. snowstorm- I've heard that real cold weather may affect shotgun shells- but I have no direct knowlege of that.

Have a good trip- hope you get into some birds- maybe some fotos afterwards with the DH 12 as a "bonus"??:bigbye:

I have hunted upland birds at -30 celsius (22 below F) and not had issues with various brands of shot shells over the years.

Back in paper days, some did swell on the miserable driving rain days for migratory birds. "Miserable" is a bit harsh, as those were the days we looked forward to for a great shoot. (That was in my youth. A warm fire, and SMS shared with other old geezers seems more civilized now :) )
Cheers,
Jack

Jack- thanks! Sounds like old Ned Hall's wisdom--
 

Yessiree- and if you are hosting, and SMS means what I take it to me (McCallan?) I'm there. In Robert Ruark's classic "The Old Man and The Boy" his maternal grandfather, Ned Hall- often expressed that love of the warm fire and a toddy over taking a limit of ducks in a raging storm--

I look forward to our late Bonus 30 day season on Canadas- if it is not way too cold, and our rivers haven't frozen shut- 'tighter than Dick's hatband' to use a Ruark expression-- I usually use the "black ops. Mossenburgher 835 pump and 3" Federal steelies OO buck. Never have had a "fail to fire" yet, and if I steer it right, usually hear the bang- followed by the crash-thump of a Canada coming down-- I usually fill the Thermos with hot chocolate rather than coffee, and "dress warm, boy- dress warm"

Ruark's great story about "It takes a duck to know a duck"-- the breakfast where his Grandpa cooks the fried eggs in the toasted bread- one of my boyhood favorites--:bigbye::bigbye:

Francis: You do have a clear understanding of "civilised". :)
Jack

any factory load of the majorammo companys will be stout in presure and recoil in the 1 1/4 ounce loads...you want know any differance ina 1 3/8 or a 1 1/2 ounce load....as said youll probably get by shooting the loads....its not the amount of lead in the shell that kills its the man who has been practicing before the hunt.....i like the screw in chokes yuumentioned...makes for an all around gun..... charlie

Lots of people ( including me) have their personal opinions, but here is what Parker said about suggested and permissible loads for your gun as it was built.

Obviously it would make a difference if a gun is decrepit or in lesser condition now than when it was built.